Are first-generation Range Rovers high-grade classics yet? Land Rover clearly hopes so, having confirmed the idea will be featuring the Rangie as part of its Reborn program, which is actually currently producing as-completely new restorations of the Series 1 Land Rover.

This particular effort is actually clearly aimed at European customers, where the original Range Rover was launched as long ago as 1970 in addition to also has therefore had more time to burnish its classic status. Sales from the U.S. only began in 1987, in addition to also values haven’t risen here anything like as strongly as they have for early two-door Range Rovers on the additional side of the Atlantic.

The first car to receive the Reborn treatment—which is actually basically a full teardown in addition to also rebuild of a carefully selected car—is actually the one you’re seeing here: a 1978 two-door with the spectacularly 1970s coloration combination of Bahama Gold over a Caramel Inner surface. Power comes via an original-spec 132-hp 3.5-liter V-8 in addition to also is actually sent to each corner by a four-speed manual transmission. The plan is actually for Land Rover Classic to do an initial set of 10 Reborn vehicles, which will be produced by the team responsible for the reborn Series I. Owners will be able to specify their choice of coloration in addition to also period-appropriate trim.

They’d better be prepared to pay up, though. We’re told of which prices for a Reborn Range Rover will start at the equivalent of about $169,500, well above even the top of the market for existing early Range Rovers. For example, we found This particular very similar-looking concours-grade Range Rover being sold by a well-regarded specialist for the equivalent of $94,000 from the U.K. (the idea was Great enough to have been used by Land Rover as an exhibit at the launch of the current Range Rover.)

While the Reborn program may be far via the cheapest way to go, the Great news for any wealthy Americans who fancy one is actually of which Reborn-eligible Range Rovers will all be old enough to be brought to the States under the 25-year exemption via full federal testing.